elise 250cup or exige 430 cup for track days?
Discussion
Both great cars. Depends what you’re looking to get out of the track days, what you’re coming from etc.
But 430 might be restricted on tracks due to noise.
I’ve tracked a 350 Sport and now have a 220 Cup.Did 6 track days in the 350 Sport one summer. Loved it. Easy on consumables as well. It helped me work out that I don’t need the power or straight line speed to enjoy track days. The Elise Cup is plenty for me.
A very personal choice you have to make yourself. Try them. See if you can get a dealer or Lotus to give you time at Hethel.
Happy hunting.
But 430 might be restricted on tracks due to noise.
I’ve tracked a 350 Sport and now have a 220 Cup.Did 6 track days in the 350 Sport one summer. Loved it. Easy on consumables as well. It helped me work out that I don’t need the power or straight line speed to enjoy track days. The Elise Cup is plenty for me.
A very personal choice you have to make yourself. Try them. See if you can get a dealer or Lotus to give you time at Hethel.
Happy hunting.
HokumPokum said:
I know. my budget can stretch all the way to a used 430 or 380 cup and a new elise cup.
not really the same but I wondered if the elise cup was as good a track day toy or the exige is heaps better.
Aren’t the 380/430 Cups too noisy as standard? I think you’ll need a replacement exhaust for track days. One might question the logic of that for what’s sold as a track day special, but I think it’s the case. not really the same but I wondered if the elise cup was as good a track day toy or the exige is heaps better.
jimmyslr said:
Aren’t the 380/430 Cups too noisy as standard? I think you’ll need a replacement exhaust for track days. One might question the logic of that for what’s sold as a track day special, but I think it’s the case.
I've seen people say they had problems at Silverstone but were okay at places like Anglesey, even though they appear to have identical noise regulations. I've also been told that the steel exhaust is quieter than the titanium - a couple of decibels IIRC.I know this isn't quite the same, but if it helps my thought process when deciding between a "good" S2 Exige and an entry-level V6 Exige came down to trackday practicality. I was looking at a ~260bhp S2 vs a 350bhp S3 which I admit is a smaller performance gap than what you're considering with a 430 cup, so the below may not apply!
No matter how good a V6 is on consumables, an Elise platform car will always be better but the big one in the V6 for me is the fuel tank. It's far too small for the consumption you'll be seeing on track which is a massive pain in the ass. Cost aside if you plan on doing a decent amount of track time you'll probably be leaving mid morning, lunch and mid afternoon for fuel which at some circuits is a lot of lost time. I had a tuned Subaru years ago which was great fun on track, but the constant requirement for fuel made the days quite tedious.
All that said, I avoided driving a V6 because I knew the noise/theatre and on-the-road grunt would win me over if I experienced it.
I think if I did more GP style circuits then I'd prefer a V6, but doing Blyton/Cadwell/etc regularly the Elise platform just feels more appropriate to me.
No matter how good a V6 is on consumables, an Elise platform car will always be better but the big one in the V6 for me is the fuel tank. It's far too small for the consumption you'll be seeing on track which is a massive pain in the ass. Cost aside if you plan on doing a decent amount of track time you'll probably be leaving mid morning, lunch and mid afternoon for fuel which at some circuits is a lot of lost time. I had a tuned Subaru years ago which was great fun on track, but the constant requirement for fuel made the days quite tedious.
All that said, I avoided driving a V6 because I knew the noise/theatre and on-the-road grunt would win me over if I experienced it.
I think if I did more GP style circuits then I'd prefer a V6, but doing Blyton/Cadwell/etc regularly the Elise platform just feels more appropriate to me.
tx. that was helpful.
I love the power circuits like snetterton, bedford and silverstone. i also like donnington national, castle combe and anglesey. it'll be difficult deciding but the HP speaks volumes..
if its only a bit of additional wear, given that I'm tracking a cagged e46 m3, exige must surely be the winner if cost wasn't an issue.
I love the power circuits like snetterton, bedford and silverstone. i also like donnington national, castle combe and anglesey. it'll be difficult deciding but the HP speaks volumes..
if its only a bit of additional wear, given that I'm tracking a cagged e46 m3, exige must surely be the winner if cost wasn't an issue.
The best of both worlds is a 3-Eleven.
But as pointed out in the other thread, you would have to be fairly committed.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I`ve not driven a later Elise but have loads of experience with S1/S2`s, and have a Cup 430.
Just to clear one thing up, the tank size is not an issue, you`ll get plenty of track time, but yes you will have to refill it on the day...and it will use more fuel than and Elise.
The Elise is a very effective track car and in many ways makes a better driver of you because maintaining cornering speed (which is surely the bigger challenge) is even more important, although the latter cars will not be lacking shove.
The Exige will really show its power advantage at somewhere like Silverstone and overall it is a very quick car, but it is also quite physical drive (which is great and part of the challenge) and really is in many ways an Elise on steroids. I would say it is a heavier car and you will notice this on track, but the newer Elise`s are not so much lighter.
On the road the Exige is brilliant and I use mine for all sorts of journeys...I`ll probably upset everyone and say I think it is a better road car than track car...although it is a very good trackcar...I`ve harried although could not get past a well driven new GT3 RS at Snetterton which is somewhere that there is a definite advantage with a PDK gearbox, never mind another 100hp...
Just to clear one thing up, the tank size is not an issue, you`ll get plenty of track time, but yes you will have to refill it on the day...and it will use more fuel than and Elise.
The Elise is a very effective track car and in many ways makes a better driver of you because maintaining cornering speed (which is surely the bigger challenge) is even more important, although the latter cars will not be lacking shove.
The Exige will really show its power advantage at somewhere like Silverstone and overall it is a very quick car, but it is also quite physical drive (which is great and part of the challenge) and really is in many ways an Elise on steroids. I would say it is a heavier car and you will notice this on track, but the newer Elise`s are not so much lighter.
On the road the Exige is brilliant and I use mine for all sorts of journeys...I`ll probably upset everyone and say I think it is a better road car than track car...although it is a very good trackcar...I`ve harried although could not get past a well driven new GT3 RS at Snetterton which is somewhere that there is a definite advantage with a PDK gearbox, never mind another 100hp...
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff